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Oops! Our Bad

Grinnell College is a tad late in handling a simple vote — okay, 50 years late.

In 1967–68, the College introduced a change to its Latin motto. “Christo Duce” — translated as “With Christ as leader” — became “Veritas et Humanitas” – “Truth and Humanity.” The new motto was part of a new seal and logo — the laurel leaf design that’s set in a square with 1846 above it, surrounded by the new motto and the College’s name in Latin.

The design was originally an experiment, but it was well received. The laurel leaves have been used as the College’s identity ever since, while use of the official circular seal depicting an open book was limited to diplomas, transcripts, and other official documents.

The “oops” part is that although the Board of Trustees liked the new square seal, it was still on probation, so to speak, and wasn’t formally approved for use 50 years ago. That changed at the board’s October 2018 meeting, when it voted to approve a bylaws amendment, confirming this text: Collegium Grinnellense and Veritas et Humanitas. In addition, the laurel leaf design has become the official College seal.